Tim Delaney photo
Work continued Monday, July 14, on new storage units at 602 E. Empresario St. Rafter D Investments is spending $116,000 during the units' Phase I of the project. The company received a four-year tax abatement from the city on the project.

REFUGIO – Residents of Refugio may see new trash carts and trucks with hydraulic pickup arms to haul away refuse in the very near future.

The Refugio City Council approved an option from Republic Services to upgrade trash pickup at no additional cost to residents, subject to regional approval from Republic Services, according to Mike Reeves, municipal marketing manager for the company.

The action came on Tuesday evening, July 8.

The twice a week pickup would not change, but rear loading trucks would cease and new trucks that pickup trash on their sides would be introduced.

Also, each customer would receive a blue cart with wheels to roll out to the curb. Each cart has a 96-gallon capacity.

No bags outside the cart would be allowed or picked up.

If a resident needs an additional cart, it can be supplied at a reduced charge.

Reeves also said brush and bulky pickup would be part of the deal on a quarterly basis.

Reeves made the deal if the city would extend its contract for five years.

Council person Karen Watts made the motion to approve the option, and Council person Wanda Dukes seconded. The vote was unanimous.

In other business, the council approved $30,000 in hotel occupancy tax money for the Refugio County Fair Association to be paid in four quarterly increments of $7,500.

Will Ramirez, speaking for the association, said a lot is planned for the upcoming year.

He said this is the 68th year of the rodeo, and the association wants to extend the event to nine days covering two weekends.

The event includes the livestock shows, auction, carnival, barbecue cook off, and, starting this year, the Refugio County Wine Festival.

The association wants help to fund technology, to contract for parking assistants and scholarships.

It was noted that the Refugio County Fair had 13,000 visitors come through the gates last year.

The council also granted a five-year tax abatement for Rafter D Investments for Phase I of its Affordable Mini-Storage units being constructed at 602 E. Empresario St.

The company has invested $116,00 in the new business and qualified for the abatement as a new business.

Existing businesses that invest at least $50,000 in their businesses qualify for the abatement.

The council also approved hiring two police officers to fill two vacancies in the Refugio Police Department.

Eric Cavazos and David Jimenez were hired and were to start Wednesday, July 9.

The council also approved moving $6,128 from the technology fund to the general fund.